Every year on July 26th, we celebrate World Mangrove Day.
Wikipedia provides the following information about the origins of the designation:
“The International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem is a UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) holiday celebrated every year on 26 July.
This International Day was designated by the General Conference of UNESCO in 2015 and it was first held in July 2016.[1]
Mangroves are prolific ecosystems, supporting rich biodiversity, and their soils are effective carbon sinks.[2] They also form natural coastal barriers against storm surges.[3]
Yet, according to UNESCO, some countries lost more than 40% of their mangroves between 1980 and 2005.[4]
UNESCO's protection of the mangrove ecosystem involves the inclusion of mangroves in Biosphere Reserves, World Heritage sites and UNESCO Global Geoparks[2] as well as the protection of the blue carbon ecosystem.[5]”
For those who pass through Anguilla to enjoy the beaches and food, the presence of these ecosystems may be obscure. Most of the island’s salt ponds are supported by mangrove species including Buttonwood, Red, White, and Black.
Hurricane Irma in 2017 changed all that. When it was over, the storm destroyed 300 feet of Red Mangrove On West End Pond Important Bird Area, leaving a pile of rubble. The pond and the homes behind it might have been destroyed without those mangroves to protect them.
Knowing that the Buttonwood and Red Mangrove were critical to West End Pond, I spearheaded the “Bring Back the Buttonwoods” project to restore this designated Important Bird Area.
Through donations from Birds Caribbean and tour guests, I replaced over 200 Buttonwood and 750 Red Mangrove plants around the pond.
Further, hundreds of pounds of debris were removed from the site as part of the initiative.
Restoration of this habitat has been key to supporting resident and migratory bird species increasing numbers and variety to pre-Irma levels.
The program which concluded in February of 2024, was aided by several volunteers from the local community and visitors. I will be forever grateful to everyone who assisted with “Bring Back the Buttonwoods” and made it a reality.
With the Caribbean Region amid hurricane season and knowing the damage that Beryl did just a few weeks ago in the Grenadines, it is important to realize just how important Mangroves are to each of our islands. YouTube is filled with testimonials from yacht owners in the region who say that Mangrove Stands saved their boats and in some cases, their lives. It will take years for those ecosystems to recover.
This small graphic helps to highlight the importance of Mangroves. Not only do they help our bird and fish populations, but they are also on the leading edge of Climate Change.
If you are a teacher looking for resources to help students learn about Mangroves, National Geographic has some great resources on their site like this graphic. It is also available in French and Spanish.
The video below provides a window into life underneath the root system of the Mangrove Ecosystem in Little Harbour. The bay and adjacent pond are one of the largest mangrove stands in Anguilla. (Apologies for the unsteady moments. I should have picked a calmer day to film.)
Little Harbour Mangrove Ecosystem Companion Reel
As storms become more intense and inflict greater damage on our vulnerable communities each year, we must do everything to protect our Mangroves. Today and every day, let’s celebrate their contributions!
Love all mangroves, especially the ones in Anguilla!
Really fun watching the world beneath the mangroves. Interesting and informative article! Thank you for keeping us aware and appreciating nature around us.